Methods to keep soil healthy

Let me start with my another blog post on soil health which means the fitness of soil for specific purpose determined by the factors chosen for soil classification, soil suitability and land capability. It examines spatial and temporal variations induced by land-use policy or management. Soil organic carbon is the most reliable, versatile and easily a****sable indicator, encompassing interactive effect of several factors. Hence, first think to look into is how to sequester soil organic carbon.

Maintaining soil quality by ameliorating degraded land and increasing organic matter content is imperative for sustaining agricultural productivity. Soil organic matter is probably the most important indicator of soil quality; and that an increase in per cent organic matter content is suggestive of positive change in soil quality through reduction of soil erosion by increasing water table aggregates. Farmers using alternative cropping practices such as green manures often report improvements in soil tilth. Some of the new land-use systems have disregarded the time tested highly effective system of crop rotation as well as the practice of green manuring. Experimental evidences of growing green manure crop before paddy transplantation do suggest a better yield even without the addition of fertilizers apart from its positive effects on soil tilth and pore space. Although microbial life of the soil is often considered as a key element of soil health or quality, more research data are needed to evaluate the economic potential of new options and their impact on the soil resource.

The impact of soil degradation processes is not limited to national boundaries. There are evidences to show that the land degradation processes such as loss of organic matter and increase in carbon dioxide contents are contributing to global changes adversely affecting the humanity at large. This will warrant efforts to combat soil degradation not only at national level but also at international level.